Entry Level Racing
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Beginner questions
Forum Discription: Advice for those who are new to sailing
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5785
Printed Date: 07 Aug 25 at 11:49am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Entry Level Racing
Posted By: G.R.F.
Subject: Entry Level Racing
Date Posted: 05 Aug 09 at 11:42am
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I'm just concluding Tonight, what's been an unexpectedly successful 'introduction to racing your
dinghy' course. Timed for the start of the school holidays and warm water, the idea was to swell our depleted racing numbers with a simple approach whilst also garnering more help on the race management side. So if anyone else is suffering the same malaise as us, which was simply reduction in numbers due to changing life circumstances mainly, I can heartily recommend bunging a three night course based around the raw basics, with some match racing in the club boats (we have a couple of fevas and toppers) thrown in. We involved everyone from the regular racers, and it resulted this sunday in the biggest numbers we've had in recent years at our annual "ship race". Paired folk up, got them all to sail a match race, run a race and do race boat, with a help of a http://www.s119568945.websitehome.co.uk/HSSCRaceTraining1.doc - handout The plain fact is, there just isn't enough for grown ups in the regular system, there's plenty of learn to sail stuff, but at least in this part of the world, not much else in secondary training or at least if there is I've not come across it. So if your club's in the doldrums, give it a go, maybe you already do, far be it from me to teach anyone how to suck eggs, but it's definitely worked for us, we drew on parents of the team fifteen windsurfers, recent new members and just about anyone else who was interested which turned out to be a couple of dozen. Wasn't sure where to post this, so put it here because the handout bit has some useful dumbed down tips, flags & raw basics to get most folk going, you know how complex sailing can get once you start delving to deep which puts most folk off. ------------- https://www.ease-distribution.com/" rel="nofollow - https://www.ease-distribution.com/ |
Replies:
Posted By: English Dave
Date Posted: 05 Aug 09 at 12:35pm
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Sorry, just spat a mouthful of coffee all over my laptop ------------- English Dave http://www.ballyholme.com - Ballyholme Yacht Club (You'd think I'd be better at it by now) Hurricane 5.9 SX RS700 |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 05 Aug 09 at 6:22pm
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Nice to see it all degenrating so quickly...maybe we have lost the point of GRF's first post with no shoulder chips or axes being ground before it had a chance to be taken seriously. I hope not, as there was, for once, plenty of sense in it. Our club has junior group, ladies group, beginners courses and the like, all of which are well attended. Put on a start (or even improve) racing course, and the silence is deafening. Why? The racing standard among middle aged males certainly needs improving here, as I'm sure it does most places. Maybe middle aged males have enough comptition in their lives outside of sailing, and just need to unwind at the back of the fleet? ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: Garry
Date Posted: 05 Aug 09 at 9:51pm
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GRF I run an introduction to racing course based on 'RYA Start Racing' over 6 wednesday evenings shortly after the Level 2 course at the club finishes. I normally get a dozen or so new members and probably 1/2 those go on to race. We also have regular Saturday morning sessions for improvers. This all works very well. To support the racing course I have put together a CD, anyone wanting a copy should PM their address to me and I'll put one in the post. If you find it useful a donation to Sailability would be appreciated. Garry ------------- Garry Lark 2252, Contender 298 www.cuckoos.eclipse.co.uk |
Posted By: G.R.F.
Date Posted: 06 Aug 09 at 9:01am
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I did wonder if anyone else did it, definitely something we'll do again next
year, I'd love a copy of that CD Gary I'll pm my address, there are a lot of keen folk who'll devour it. We need a couple of bigger wash tubs, I'm thinking Vagos, the little Fevas aren't really up to anything other than Adult/child, it was v. light last night and painful watching them sat head to wind going nowhere. So do the overseas centres dump their used stock back in the UK like they do their windsurfing boards I wonder? It would be a cheap way of getting a couple of training boats.. ------------- https://www.ease-distribution.com/" rel="nofollow - https://www.ease-distribution.com/ |
Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 06 Aug 09 at 11:04am
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Most of them do, yes, but I'm not sure how, when or where they go about it. Rather than Vagos, what about the Feva's bigger brother, the Vision? ------------- -_ Al |
Posted By: G.R.F.
Date Posted: 06 Aug 09 at 11:43am
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Vision? Wasn't on the radar, yep, it is now, worth also considering.. ------------- https://www.ease-distribution.com/" rel="nofollow - https://www.ease-distribution.com/ |
Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 06 Aug 09 at 11:49am
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http://www.rssailing.com/fleets.asp?fleet=RS%20Vision - Yes it does have a CB. Not actually sailed one, but barring the CB instead of a DB, really does look like a bigger Feva. RS actually intially didn't set up a Class Association for it, and really went for pushing it as a family/club boat. I think a CA formed nontheless (with enough boats out there, these things can happen by themselves which is now I think absorbed into the RS Association hive-mind. ------------- -_ Al |
Posted By: G.R.F.
Date Posted: 06 Aug 09 at 11:51am
Hmm yes, a bit like being assimilated by the Borg I guess. ------------- https://www.ease-distribution.com/" rel="nofollow - https://www.ease-distribution.com/ |
Posted By: vscott
Date Posted: 06 Aug 09 at 12:23pm
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We run RYA Level 1&2 courses (over 3 weekends) but had the usual thing of not enough continuing sailing after that even though we do run a Start Racing course So we have introduced some Saturday coaching aimed at bringing on skills and encouraging racing as a result - we have had good take up and feedback on this. However I want to reintroduce Buddying as racing with an experienced racer can be a great learning experience and incentive. ------------- Mk IV Osprey 1314 Think Again 
Kielder Water Sailing Club |
Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 06 Aug 09 at 1:36pm
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We have a Vision as a club boat at Hunts. Yes it is heavy and it wont set the world alight with it's performance but it is fast enough to mix it up and a club fleet (even when you don't use the kite). At hunts we also have an option for a cadet/novice start aimed at getting the 'youth' on the water. There are those who choose to start in the main fleets but for the cadets who are a little nervous about their racing it has proved a success when a group of them get together. ------------- Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
Posted By: Garry
Date Posted: 06 Aug 09 at 4:20pm
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West country boats import and refurbish some of the fleets from sailing centres overseas - see pete's website http://www.petevincent.co.uk/index.php - http://www.petevincent.co.uk/index.php Garry ------------- Garry Lark 2252, Contender 298 www.cuckoos.eclipse.co.uk |
Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 08 Aug 09 at 10:29am
Paul I'm currently negotiating to do a Start Racing course on Saturday mornings at Hunts. Any experienced racers who can turn up to help out at any time would be very welcome. Let me know if you're interested. ------------- the same, but different... |
Posted By: JohnW
Date Posted: 08 Aug 09 at 2:00pm
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Usefull document there Graeme. A couple of queries - do you really put the P flag up at 5 mins or the more usual 4 mins (for 541 start)? I also see you quote the mythical "Overtaking boat keeps clear" rule - perhaps it should be explained that this not acutally a racing rule, but is a reasonable approximation of the rules regarding gaining overlaps as a useful starting point for a beginner.
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Posted By: G.R.F.
Date Posted: 08 Aug 09 at 7:37pm
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If we run 5410 then the P goes up at 4.
If we run the 10 then we bung it up on the 5. As to the rules, they're just intended to get some basic 'flavours' at this point. Too many rules spoils the fun imho If they want to go out into the big wide world, then they'll need to bone up and prepare to get anal, this is about getting them to join in rather than scaring them off. Overtaking boat should keep clear, if there is no longer such a rule, then perhaps we should re introduce it. ------------- https://www.ease-distribution.com/" rel="nofollow - https://www.ease-distribution.com/ |
Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 26 Aug 09 at 12:18pm
I now have Garry's cd and have to say it is very good - big thanks Garry 
------------- the same, but different... |
Posted By: G.R.F.
Date Posted: 26 Aug 09 at 12:33pm
Lucky you, I never got mine... Since you resurrected this thread, I should report that following that three evening series, which whilst being an introduction for some kind of turned into a bit of a refresher for others and also span off a kind of new member induction anyway it resulted in a big boost to the racing and one of the biggest entries we've had for boats to our ship race.. Pics are on our website which doesn't offer the ability to direct link unfortunately.. http://www.hssc.net - Hssc but http://www.flickr.com/photos/mathewmackenzie/sets/72157621800611593/ - This does. ------------- https://www.ease-distribution.com/" rel="nofollow - https://www.ease-distribution.com/ |
Posted By: Garry
Date Posted: 26 Aug 09 at 3:09pm
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GRF I posted it to the address you PM'd me! Garry Graeme I have put another one in the post (should have arrived today <27th>!) ------------- Garry Lark 2252, Contender 298 www.cuckoos.eclipse.co.uk |
Posted By: damp_freddie
Date Posted: 20 Sep 09 at 9:47pm
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the old level 4 - racing - used to be often 5 days, which meant masses of practice starts, short course races and discussion of rules. I got a huge boost from it. Totally agree that there is a gap between all the dinghy 1&2 - and competent crew, day skipper on the RYA yacht side, and actually making sure you are doing enough right to progress on your own merits! |
Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 21 Sep 09 at 9:16pm
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There is now a Level 3 course being piloted, designed to help you consolidate what you have learned and enable you to try out part sof the four Advanced Modules (Seamanship, Spinnakers, Day Sailing and Performance Sailing). I'm currently taking those with Level 2 or equivalent skills for my Start Racing sessions, aiming to polish them up with boat handling drills as they go along. ------------- the same, but different... |
Posted By: damp_freddie
Date Posted: 22 Sep 09 at 11:49am
That's what I'm actually doing with my Feva group, more or less, but they get regattas each wednesday so they prefer to do something a little different on training nights than endless starts and WL courses. Football with boats and rules 10-12 last week. Planing techniques tonight seems in order since it is actually blowing! They are lucky in that they all get to race together and are at a similar level of completely ignoring the rules on wedsnedays! never mind. |